Home Care Instructions

After Crown and Bridge Appointments

Crowns and bridges usually take two or three appointments to complete. During the first visit, the teeth are prepared and molds of the mouth are taken. Temporary crowns or bridges are placed to protect the teeth while the custom restoration is being made. Since the area will be anesthetized, the tongue, lips and roof of the mouth may also be numb. Please refrain from eating or drinking hot beverages until the numbness is completely worn off.

Occasionally, a temporary crown may come off. Call us at (919) 859-5459 if this happens and we will schedule an appointment for you. It is very important for the temporary to stay in place, as it will prevent other teeth from shifting or compromising the fit of your permanent restoration.

To keep temporary restorations in place, avoid eating sticky or hard foods, chewing gum, and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to brush and floss as normal. Try not to pull up on the floss (which may dislodge the temporary) but rather, pull the floss out from the side of the restoration.

It is normal to experience some temperature and pressure sensitivity after your appointment. This should subside after the placement of the permanent restoration. Mild over-the-counter pain medications may also be used as directed by our office.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at (919) 859-5459.

After Tooth Extraction

After an extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form so the healing process may begin. That’s why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes after the appointment. If bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.

After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids healing. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush teeth next to the extraction site for 72 hours. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and hinder the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for 24 hours as this will increase blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.

After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.

Use the pain medication as directed. Call the office at (919) 859-5459 if the medication doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluid and eat nutritious soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.

It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.

After a few days you will feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately at (919) 859-5459.

After Fillings

When an anesthetic has been used, your lips and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has completely worn off. It is very easy to bite or burn your tongue or lip while you are numb.

It is normal to experience some hot, cold & pressure sensitivity after your appointment. Injection sites may also be sore. Ibuprofen (Motrin), Tylenol or aspirin (one tablet every 3-4 hours as needed for pain) work well to alleviate the tenderness. If pressure sensitivity persists beyond a few days or if the sensitivity to hot or cold increases, contact our office at (919) 859-5459.

You may chew with your composite (tooth colored) fillings as soon as the anesthetic completely wears off, since they are fully set when you leave the office.

You should wait 24 hours to chew with an amalgam (silver) filling. Simply chew on the other side of your mouth for 24 hours.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at (919) 859-5459.